Back to the movie wall. I was in the mood for something fun that makes me happy. I don't even know how long it's been since I've seen this. Ten years maybe almost?

I'd loved it so much that I got the book immediately after. I took it with me to the theater for a show I was working on. One of my fellow techies had a very long sound check to do. I handed her the book to read out loud so she'd have something to say into all the mics she had to go thru. That was enough to hook her so much that she borrowed the book and found some little backstage corners with just enough light and tore thru it all during that night's rehearsal.

It's just such a fun and happy story. Oftentimes in movies I get annoyed if things get tied up with too nice a bow, but all of the twists and connections are carefully laid out throughout that it's all just magic when it comes together. The movie's got a fun theme song too!

Oh right, story. Stanley Yelnats (in a still Disney-ed and golden Shia LaBeouf) has always had bad luck, thanks to the family curse brought on by his no good dirty rotten pig stealing great great grandfather. He's mistakenly accused of stealing some really expensive shoes and sent to a juvie work camp, where all the kids are forced to dig large holes everyday. Thus the mystery and adventure begin.

Lots of fun kid actors and some high quality adults: Signourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Tim Blake Nelson, Patricia Arquette. Happy surprise to see Dule Hill take a break from his West Wing stint.

This is one of those that I am excited to share with my future kids someday. Read the book at bedtime for a week leading up to pillow forts and popcorn watching the movie. I can tell them all about how Shia LaBeouf used to be such a silly and fun to watch actor with such promise. We'll save the stories of how he got weird until they're older.